Lead Contamination

Lead in Idaho Drinking Water

Ranked by 90th percentile lead level (ppb) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

139

Cities Tested

Exceeds Limit

% Exceeds Limit

2.4 ppb

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

134

Health Violations

Analysis

Lead in Idaho: what the data shows

Idaho has 139 cities with lead monitoring data, with very few cities exceeding the EPA action level of 15 ppb. The state average 90th percentile lead level is 2.4 ppb, compared to 3.3 ppb nationally — better than the national average. 3 cities exceed the 15 ppb action level. High lead levels in tap water typically indicate aging infrastructure — lead service lines, lead solder in older plumbing, or lead-containing brass fixtures. There is no safe level of lead exposure for children. The 90th percentile measurement means that 90% of tap samples in a city are at or below the reported level. This is the standard EPA uses under the Lead and Copper Rule to determine if a water system needs to take corrective action. An NSF 53-certified pitcher or under-sink filter can effectively remove lead at the tap.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 15 ppb EPA Action Level

Idaho

3 of 139 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

378 of 15681 cities

City Map

Lead data across Idaho

Each dot is a city, colored by overall water quality grade. Cities with lead levels above the 15 ppb EPA action level are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by lead level in Idaho

Highest Lead levels (ppb)

All Cities

All Idaho cities ranked by lead level

#	City	Level	Exceeds?	Violations	Grade
1	Juliaetta	23.0 ppb	Yes	22	D
2	Hailey	20.0 ppb	Yes	7	C
3	Worley	17.0 ppb	Yes	24	F
4	Dover	14.0 ppb	No	2	B-
5	Orofino	12.0 ppb	No	107	D
6	Caldwell	7.0 ppb	No	226	F
7	Preston	7.0 ppb	No	82	F
8	American Falls	7.0 ppb	No	36	F
9	Ririe	7.0 ppb	No	8	A-
10	Old Town	7.0 ppb	No	0	B+
11	Plummer	6.1 ppb	No	24	F
12	Emmett	6.0 ppb	No	31	D
13	Dalton Gardens	6.0 ppb	No	6	A
14	Sagle	6.0 ppb	No	39	D
15	Cascade	6.0 ppb	No	5	B+
16	Challis	5.0 ppb	No	8	B
17	Troy	5.0 ppb	No	19	C+
18	Coolin	5.0 ppb	No	2	B+
19	Weippe	5.0 ppb	No	4	A
20	Richfield	5.0 ppb	No	10	A-
21	Ovid	4.2 ppb	No	2	B+
22	Boise	4.0 ppb	No	218	F
23	Moscow	4.0 ppb	No	20	C-
24	Fruitland	4.0 ppb	No	120	D
25	Kimberly	4.0 ppb	No	10	B+
26	St Maries	4.0 ppb	No	17	B-
27	Grangeville	4.0 ppb	No	27	B-
28	Malad	4.0 ppb	No	5	A
29	Carey	4.0 ppb	No	5	A-
30	Pocatello	3.0 ppb	No	117	F
31	Rathdrum	3.0 ppb	No	79	D
32	Sandpoint	3.0 ppb	No	328	F
33	Blackfoot	3.0 ppb	No	85	F
34	Franklin	3.0 ppb	No	13	C+
35	Rupert	3.0 ppb	No	5	D+
36	Sun Valley	3.0 ppb	No	13	D
37	Hauser	3.0 ppb	No	12	A
38	Arco	3.0 ppb	No	12	A-
39	Roberts	3.0 ppb	No	7	A-
40	Melba	3.0 ppb	No	16	B+
41	Meridian	2.0 ppb	No	34	F
42	Coeur D Alene	2.0 ppb	No	125	F
43	Rexburg	2.0 ppb	No	83	F
44	Chubbuck	2.0 ppb	No	16	C+
45	Bonners Ferry	2.0 ppb	No	516	D
46	Payette	2.0 ppb	No	8	B
47	Coeur D'Alene	2.0 ppb	No	87	D
48	Mccall	2.0 ppb	No	19	F
49	St Anthony	2.0 ppb	No	25	D
50	Wallace	2.0 ppb	No	6	A-
51	Victor	2.0 ppb	No	6	B-
52	New Plymouth	2.0 ppb	No	64	D+
53	Aberdeen	2.0 ppb	No	4	A
54	Cottonwood	2.0 ppb	No	26	B+
55	Kingston	2.0 ppb	No	16	A-
56	Bayview	2.0 ppb	No	10	A
57	Moyie Springs	2.0 ppb	No	18	B
58	Blanchard	2.0 ppb	No	3	A-
59	Hagerman	2.0 ppb	No	3	A
60	Potlatch	2.0 ppb	No	16	B
61	Grace	2.0 ppb	No	14	B-
62	Genesee	2.0 ppb	No	8	A-
63	Notus	2.0 ppb	No	37	C
64	Greenleaf	2.0 ppb	No	4	A
65	Donnelly	2.0 ppb	No	6	B
66	Horseshoe Bend	2.0 ppb	No	77	C-
67	Mccammon	2.0 ppb	No	8	A-
68	Clark Fork	2.0 ppb	No	3	A-
69	Idaho City	2.0 ppb	No	20	B-
70	Downey	2.0 ppb	No	2	A
71	Dayton	2.0 ppb	No	20	B
72	Hope	2.0 ppb	No	1	A-
73	Deary	2.0 ppb	No	10	A
74	Idaho Falls	1.0 ppb	No	101	D
75	Post Falls	1.0 ppb	No	56	D
76	Star	1.0 ppb	No	0	A
77	Eagle	1.0 ppb	No	52	F
78	Garden City	1.0 ppb	No	12	C-
79	Rigby	1.0 ppb	No	28	D
80	Kellogg	1.0 ppb	No	90	C+
81	Athol	1.0 ppb	No	67	D+
82	Wilder	1.0 ppb	No	3	A
83	Kamiah	1.0 ppb	No	127	D
84	Oakley	1.0 ppb	No	37	D
85	Garden Valley	1.0 ppb	No	109	D
86	Teton	1.0 ppb	No	5	A
87	Uconn	1.0 ppb	No	0	A
88	Fernwood	1.0 ppb	No	103	B
89	Mackay	1.0 ppb	No	7	A
90	Riggins	1.0 ppb	No	8	A-
91	Dubois	1.0 ppb	No	3	A
92	Nampa	0.0 ppb	No	255	F
93	Twin Falls	0.0 ppb	No	71	D+
94	Lewiston	0.0 ppb	No	91	F
95	Kuna	0.0 ppb	No	98	D
96	Hayden	0.0 ppb	No	56	D
97	Ammon	0.0 ppb	No	52	D+
98	Mountain Home	0.0 ppb	No	55	D
99	Middleton	0.0 ppb	No	64	D+
100	Jerome	0.0 ppb	No	22	D
101	Burley	0.0 ppb	No	29	F
102	Mountain Home Afb	0.0 ppb	No	17	D
103	Weiser	0.0 ppb	No	0	A-
104	Shelley	0.0 ppb	No	44	D
105	Ketchum	0.0 ppb	No	34	D
106	Buhl	0.0 ppb	No	65	D
107	Gooding	0.0 ppb	No	13	B+
108	Driggs	0.0 ppb	No	12	D+
109	Spirit Lake	0.0 ppb	No	26	D+
110	Salmon	0.0 ppb	No	43	D
111	Soda Springs	0.0 ppb	No	20	C+
112	Heyburn	0.0 ppb	No	28	D
113	Homedale	0.0 ppb	No	21	B+
114	Wendell	0.0 ppb	No	6	A
115	Sugar City	0.0 ppb	No	16	A
116	Iona	0.0 ppb	No	23	A-
117	Filer	0.0 ppb	No	34	B-
118	Fort Hall	0.0 ppb	No	5	D
119	Montpelier	0.0 ppb	No	6	A-
120	Bellevue	0.0 ppb	No	28	D
121	Priest River	0.0 ppb	No	76	B
122	Pinehurst	0.0 ppb	No	0	A-
123	Marsing	0.0 ppb	No	29	D+
124	Shoshone	0.0 ppb	No	2	A+
125	New Meadows	0.0 ppb	No	5	B
126	Lapwai	0.0 ppb	No	48	D+
127	Hansen	0.0 ppb	No	4	B
128	Ucon	0.0 ppb	No	7	D+
129	Glenns Ferry	0.0 ppb	No	3	A-
130	Paul	0.0 ppb	No	4	A
131	Ashton	0.0 ppb	No	29	A-
132	Hazelton	0.0 ppb	No	8	B
133	Council	0.0 ppb	No	13	A
134	Inkom	0.0 ppb	No	13	B+
135	Fish Haven	0.0 ppb	No	13	A-
136	Kooskia	0.0 ppb	No	5	A
137	Paris	0.0 ppb	No	3	B+
138	Firth	0.0 ppb	No	4	A+
139	Craigmont	0.0 ppb	No	12	A

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about lead in Idaho

Is lead in Idaho tap water a concern?

Yes — 3 of 139 cities with lead data exceed the EPA action level of 15 ppb. The state average is 2.4 ppb. Even below the action level, lead poses health risks especially for children and pregnant women. If your home was built before 1986, consider testing your tap water directly.

How can I reduce lead exposure from Idaho tap water?

Use an NSF 53-certified water filter, which is specifically certified to reduce lead. Run your cold tap for 30 seconds before drinking or cooking, especially if water has been sitting in pipes for hours. Never use hot tap water for cooking or making baby formula, as heat increases lead leaching from pipes.

Which Idaho cities have the highest lead levels?

The cities with the highest 90th percentile lead levels in Idaho are: Juliaetta (23.0 ppb), Hailey (20.0 ppb), Worley (17.0 ppb), Dover (14.0 ppb), Orofino (12.0 ppb). See the full ranked table above.

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